Human Services at Rasmussen University-North Dakota

With earnings that place this program in the 74th percentile nationally and 60th in North Dakota, Rasmussen's human services associate's appears to deliver above-average starting outcomes—but the small graduate cohort (under 30) makes these figures less reliable than typical program data. First-year earnings of $33,870 beat the national median by about $2,200, while the debt load of $26,882 sits roughly $6,400 above the national average. That 0.79 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates carry about 9.5 months of their starting salary in debt, which is manageable but not ideal.

The troubling pattern emerges in year four, when median earnings drop to $30,107—an 11% decline that erases the initial earnings advantage. This backward trajectory is unusual for associate's degree holders, who typically see at least modest income growth. It may reflect job transitions, part-time work, or the small sample producing statistical noise rather than a true trend.

Given the limited data reliability and the earnings decline, this program works best for students with clear local employment connections in human services who can minimize borrowing. The higher-than-average debt combined with uncertain income progression makes this a riskier investment than the strong starting numbers initially suggest. If your student is committed to human services, exploring the other four North Dakota programs might reveal options with more predictable outcomes or lower debt burdens.